Gentile vs. Jew
"Jew" refers to a descendant of Abraham through the covenant line (especially through Judah), part of God's chosen nation Israel; "Gentile" is the biblical term for everyone else - any non-Jewish nation or person.
Point by Point
Gentile
Jew
Covenant relationship
Heirs of the covenants made with Abraham, Moses, and David.
Historically outside those covenants, though grafted in through faith in Christ (Romans 11).
Word meaning
From 'Judah'/'Judea,' originally referring to the tribe, later the whole nation.
From Latin gentilis/Hebrew goyim, simply meaning 'the nations' or 'peoples.'
New Testament unity
Paul teaches there is now 'neither Jew nor Greek' in Christ (Galatians 3:28).
Gentiles are described as 'grafted in' to the same olive tree as believing Israel (Romans 11:17).
Scripture References
Neither Jew Nor Greek
Galatians 3:2828 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
In Christ, the Jew/Gentile distinction no longer determines standing before God.
Gentiles Grafted In
Romans 11:17-1817 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Paul's olive tree image describes Gentile believers joining Israel's covenant story, not replacing it.
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